Ditcher



April 27, 1937.

DITCHER Filed Nov. 20,

J. KINGHORN 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor Attorneys A nfil 27, 1937. J, KI GHORN 2,078,327

DITCHER Filed Nov. 20, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 [nvenior By fiwmgh Aitorngg Patented Apr. 27, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in ditchers of the type including a. substantially V-shaped plow and has for one ofitsimportant objects to provide, in a manher. as hereinafter set forth, a machineof this character embodying a novel construction and arrangement through the medium. of which the plow will operate at a substantially uniform depth at all times.

Another very important object of the invention isto'provide a ditching machine of the character described embodying novel means for' elevating or lowering the plow for varying the width and depthLof the ditch as desired.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a ditchers' of; the character described which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly eificient and reliable in use, compact, light in weight and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a ditcher constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view partially in side elevation and partially in vertical longitudinal sections through the invention.

Figure 3 is a detail view in cross section through one of the mold boards taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view through the crank axle, showing one of the braces connected thereto.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a crank axle I having journalled on its end portions supporting wheels 2. The crank axle I is journalled on the rear end portion of a tongue 3. Braces 4 extend between the crank axle I and the tongue 3 and extending transversely between said braces 4 is a cross member 5. A hand lever 6 is fixed on the crank axle I for raising and lowering the rear end of the machine, said hand lever being provided with a suitable latch l engageable with a toothed segment 8 on the tongue 3 for releasably securing said lever in adjusted position.

The reference numeral 9 designates generally a substantially V-shaped plow which is mounted lOI 55 beneath the tongue 3, said plow including rearwardly diverging mold boards II] on the forward ends of which a'removable-point. II is provided. As illustrated to advantagein Fig. 3 of the draw-- ings,- the mold boards I'll include inturned and outturned upper and lower flanges I2 and. I3, respecr, tively.

Theplow 9 is mounted on the crank axle I through themedium ofa frame structure'which is designated generally by the referencenumeral I4. The frame I4 includes crossed longitudinal. 10 and transverse members I5 and I6 respectively,. the former. beingjournalledon the crank axle-I. The members: I5 and. I6: are rigidly secured; at one end; toitheflanges l'2'ofthemold boards I0. Extending between the rear end portions of the. longitudinahframe: members I5 is. a. platform. I! for an operator. It will be observed that the construction and arrangementis such that the wheels 2 of the machine are located within the substantially V-shaped plow 9.

Rising from an intermediate portion of the tongue 3 is a post I8 on which a longitudinally extending hand lever I9 is pivotally mounted at an intermediate point. The hand lever I9 is provided with a suitable latch 20 which is en- 25 gageable with a toothed segment 2I on the post I8 for releasably securing said hand lever in adjusted position. Hand lever I9 is adjustably connected at one end, as at 22, to the upper end of a hanger 23 which rises from the forward end of the plow 9, said hanger 23 passing through a slot 24 which is provided therefor in the tongue 3. A wear plate 25 is provided on the tongue 3 for the hanger 23.

Secured to the lower portion of the hanger 23 and extending through an opening 26 which is provided therefor in the front of the plow 9 is a rod 21. Mounted on the rod 21 is a clevis 28. Depending from the forward end of the tongue 3 is a bracket 29 to the lower end of which a clevis 30 is loosely connected through the medium of a ring 3I. The clevis 30 is adapted for connection with the draw bar of a tractor or other suitable draft implement. A rod 32 extends between the clevises 28 and 30. I 45 It is thought that the operation of the device will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. As the machine is drawn over the ground the comparatively low forward end portion of the inclined plow 9 travels in the ground at a substantially uniform depth under various conditions due to the fact that supporting wheels are provided at the rear end only. It will be noted that the levers 6 and I9 are adapted to be conveniently operated from the platform I1. By rais- 55 ing or lowering the rear end of the machine through the medium of the lever 6, the width of the ditch may be varied as desired. When the hand lever 6 is actuated the rear portion of the plow 9 is raised or lowered. The forward end of the plow 9 may be raised or lowered to vary the depth of the ditch through the medium of the hand lever IS. The construction and arrangement of the elements 21 to 32, inclusive, is such that the draft is transmitted directly to the plow 9 from the tractor or other source of power.

It is believed that the many advantages of a ditcher constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood, and although a preferred embodiment of the machine is as 11- lustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A ditcher comprising a crank axle, supporting wheels journalled on said crank axle, a substantially V-shaped plow including rearwardly diverging mold boards, said mold boards comprising inwardly extending upper flanges and outwardly extending lower flanges, a frame structure for mounting the plow on the crank axle, said frame structure comprising crossed longitudinal and transverse members rigidly secured, at one end, to the upper flanges of the mold boards, the longitudinal members being journalled on the crank axle, a platform extending transversely between the rear'end portions of said longitudinal members, and a lever fixed on the crank axle and operable from the platform for actuating said crank axle for raising and lowering the rear end of the plow.

2. A ditcher comprising a tongue, a crank axle journalled on the rear end portion of said tongue, supporting wheels journalled on said crank axle, a substantially V-shaped plow journalled on the crank axle, means on the tongue for raising and lowering the forward end of the plow, and means for connecting the forward end of the plow directly to a source of power, the last named means including a rod connected to the plow, a clevis connected to said rod, a bracket depending from the forward end of the tongue, a clevis loosely mounted on the bracket, and a rod connecting the first and second named clevises.

3. A ditcher of the class described comprising a tongue, an axle journalled on said tongue, supporting wheels journalled on the axle, a substantially V-shaped plow mounted for swinging adjustment at its rear end portion on the axle, said plow including rearwardly diverging mold boards and a removable point on the forward end portions thereof; said point having an opening therein, a hand lever mounted on the tongue, a hanger connecting the forward end portion of the plow to said hand lever for raising and lowering said plow, a rod connected to the hanger and extending through the opening in the plow point, a clevis loosely connected to said rod, another rod loosely connected to the clevis, a clevis loosely mounted on the forward end portion of the second named rod for connection with a draft implement, and a bracket supporting the second named clevis on the tongue.

JAMES KINGHORN. 

